A BARE-CHESTED tattoed attacker left a man seriously injured after an unprovoked attack.

The 39-year-old victim is currently in a stable condition in hospital following the assault, which happened outside the Assembly Rooms, on Fenkle Street in Newcastle, during the early hours of Saturday morning.

At around 12.40am the attacker, who is believed to be in his early 20s and more than 6ft tall,, picked a fight with a group of men.

During the incident he removed his shirt revealing a large number of tattoos on his arms and upper body.

The injured man was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where his condistion is currently described as 'stable'.